Let's see. . . . .I arrived here around noon exactly a week ago. Since then I've. . . .
*Unpacked and settled into a new apartment
*Done major grocery shopping at Wegmans
*Attended 10 choir rehearsals
*Performed in choir 6 times
*Read one full book, 1/3 of book #2, and a few chapters of book #3
*Attended 3 movies
*Worked out at the gym 3 times
*Biked and walked miles and miles
*Prepared 19 delicious (if I do say so myself) meals
*Seen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
*Registered my bike
*Got a library card
*Begun to receive mail
*Attended 6 lectures
*Heard my first author talk
*Attended 2 organ concerts
*Met my new "separated at birth" friend, Liz
*Reconnected with my Chautauqua buddies
*Subscribed to the Chautauquan Daily
*Made major window decisions for my crappy little house back home
*Done 2 loads of laundry
*Had my first massage in nearly a year
*Became a "friend" of the Chautauqua Theater
*Attended monologue performance of the members of the Chautauqua Theater Conservancy
*Written 6 blog entries
*Had my awareness raised about Global Health Issues and specifically the plight of women and children throughout the world. . . .one more day to go.
*Spent most of the week wearing sweatshirts and jackets!
*And done it all (after returning from Wegmans) without putting one mile on my car or watching one second of television.
*Oh yeah. . . . and I lost 2 pounds.
SWEET!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
RED SPARKLY TOENAILS!
So I'm in the lecture this morning. We have two lectures a day minimum, Monday through Friday, which we can choose to attend. Lecturers for me fall into one of three categories:
***COULDN'T NOT LISTEN IF I TRIED! These are the A#1 best lecturers that ,when the time is up, you can't believe they are going to stop talking.
**HAS ALOT OF INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY AND IF I WORK REAL HARD I WILL GET MOST OF IT - These are the people who are gifted in their fields but not necessarily gifted speakers. They are interesting, but the listener better be paying close attention.
*WHY DID THEY INVITE THIS GUY? These speakers show up rarely, but make it worth it to have found a place in the back where you can make an early departure if you want.
Today was a Two Star lecturer. . . . great and gifted expert in the field who required some effort to stay with her. So at some point, I found myself looking at my toes. I was wearing sandals since it has warmed up. And I noticed my recently pedicured toenails bedecked in bright red polish with glitter in it. This is SOOOO not my style. But my toes made me smile.
If you read my blog last year you might have remembered the story about my last pedicure, which was pretty much an exercise in torture brought to bear by a young man pedicurist who was so enamoured by the Disney Channel on the TV that was behind him and across the room, that he sanded a hole into the side of my foot. Blood, the whole works. Needless to say, I haven't had a pedicure since.
However, with sandal weather approaching, and living in a high pedicure area of the country, I ventured to a new place I had heard about in Waynesboro about a month ago. I entered this new, very clean shop and was impressed from the beginning. They weren't too busy, so several technicians were available to do my pedicure. The owner called to a girl in the back to start the water running in the pedicure chair. The girl was dressed much more casually than the other attendants. . . . as in t-shirt and jeans. I figured she was the girl who got the chairs ready and cleaned up afterwards. You know. . . like the people who sweep up the hair in the big salons. But when I got into the chair, I realized that she was going to do the pedicure! Well, that was fine with me. There wasn't a television around, so I figured I was safe. I started to read my book and she started to work on my feet. It didn't take me too long to realize that she was really taking her time and meticulously doing every single toenail carefully. She spent time looking at each one and redoing what she had done if it wasn't right. I stopped reading and started watching her.
Eventually I had to say something. The conversation went something like this: Me: "You like what you're doing, don't you?" Jessie: "Yes, I really do." Me: "You like working on feet?" Jessie: "I love working on feet." Me: "Do you do facials and manicures too?" Jessie: " I do manicures, but I really love working on feet."
And she did. She was an artist. She took an amazing amount of time getting every step just right. I had signed up for the deluxe pedicure with the multiple leg scrubs. The sign said it would take about 45 minutes. I was in the chair for over an hour. We struck up a conversation the whole time. She reminded me so much of the girls I used to teach. We got to joking around and I told her I was going to spend the summer in New York and that I would have to come back and get one more pedicure before I left. She said that would be great, but that she thought I could do much better than choose the basically clear, slightly pink color I had chosen. I told her that when I came back she could pick the color and I would have to go along with it. She countered by saying she would pick three colors and I could choose which one I wanted. This was a smart cookie!
I was so busy in the final weeks moving and packing before I left that I nearly forgot our conversation. But I was so charmed by this girl and her commitment to her work. Artists can appear in all professions and at all levels. So on the last day before I left to come up here, I managed to get back to Waynesboro, go into the shop, and was fortunate to find Jessie without a client. She remembered our deal and seemed delighted that I had come back to make good on it.
She was like a little girl in a candy shop going up to the rows of polish and carefully scrutinizing every single one before picking the three she wanted. I saw a little impish grin as she would choose one and then put it back. I couldn't wait to see what she chose. Well, I'm gladto say she did not return to the chair with any blues or greens or purples, but what she had was a VERY hot pink, an orangey red, and the deep bright red with the glitter. I swallowed hard and realized I could live with any of those. I was having so much fun! So I told her to choose, and of course, the glitter polish was the one!
We laughed like sorority sisters as we contemplated how my nail polish was going to take New York by storm. Of course she thought I was coming to NYC, and it was kind of hard for me to explain where I was going. But as we got to the end of the leg massages she said, "Now you have to close your eyes while I put this on so that we can have a big reveal!" Dear God, this girl was charming! So I closed my eyes tight and did not peek until she announced the big "TA-DAH!" And there they were. Ruth Powell's toes in bright red with glitter. Surely a first. I asked her the name of the polish and she said, "New York Bling!" I said, "You've got to be kidding!" And she said, "I am kidding, But that's what it's called now!"
I found that when I got up here I started noticing people's toes to see how mine would measure up? Were Chautauquans conservative about their toes? Would mine fit in? The first few days of rain and cold did not give me much chance to find out as we all had our socks and sneakers on. But eventually the sandals came on, and I found that there were all manor of pedicured and non-pedicured toes about. So today, as I found myself not trying hard enough to stay with the lecture, and found myself looking at my toes, my gaudy gaudy toes, I just broke into a smile.
I'm SOOOO proud of them!!!
***COULDN'T NOT LISTEN IF I TRIED! These are the A#1 best lecturers that ,when the time is up, you can't believe they are going to stop talking.
**HAS ALOT OF INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY AND IF I WORK REAL HARD I WILL GET MOST OF IT - These are the people who are gifted in their fields but not necessarily gifted speakers. They are interesting, but the listener better be paying close attention.
*WHY DID THEY INVITE THIS GUY? These speakers show up rarely, but make it worth it to have found a place in the back where you can make an early departure if you want.
Today was a Two Star lecturer. . . . great and gifted expert in the field who required some effort to stay with her. So at some point, I found myself looking at my toes. I was wearing sandals since it has warmed up. And I noticed my recently pedicured toenails bedecked in bright red polish with glitter in it. This is SOOOO not my style. But my toes made me smile.
If you read my blog last year you might have remembered the story about my last pedicure, which was pretty much an exercise in torture brought to bear by a young man pedicurist who was so enamoured by the Disney Channel on the TV that was behind him and across the room, that he sanded a hole into the side of my foot. Blood, the whole works. Needless to say, I haven't had a pedicure since.
However, with sandal weather approaching, and living in a high pedicure area of the country, I ventured to a new place I had heard about in Waynesboro about a month ago. I entered this new, very clean shop and was impressed from the beginning. They weren't too busy, so several technicians were available to do my pedicure. The owner called to a girl in the back to start the water running in the pedicure chair. The girl was dressed much more casually than the other attendants. . . . as in t-shirt and jeans. I figured she was the girl who got the chairs ready and cleaned up afterwards. You know. . . like the people who sweep up the hair in the big salons. But when I got into the chair, I realized that she was going to do the pedicure! Well, that was fine with me. There wasn't a television around, so I figured I was safe. I started to read my book and she started to work on my feet. It didn't take me too long to realize that she was really taking her time and meticulously doing every single toenail carefully. She spent time looking at each one and redoing what she had done if it wasn't right. I stopped reading and started watching her.
Eventually I had to say something. The conversation went something like this: Me: "You like what you're doing, don't you?" Jessie: "Yes, I really do." Me: "You like working on feet?" Jessie: "I love working on feet." Me: "Do you do facials and manicures too?" Jessie: " I do manicures, but I really love working on feet."
And she did. She was an artist. She took an amazing amount of time getting every step just right. I had signed up for the deluxe pedicure with the multiple leg scrubs. The sign said it would take about 45 minutes. I was in the chair for over an hour. We struck up a conversation the whole time. She reminded me so much of the girls I used to teach. We got to joking around and I told her I was going to spend the summer in New York and that I would have to come back and get one more pedicure before I left. She said that would be great, but that she thought I could do much better than choose the basically clear, slightly pink color I had chosen. I told her that when I came back she could pick the color and I would have to go along with it. She countered by saying she would pick three colors and I could choose which one I wanted. This was a smart cookie!
I was so busy in the final weeks moving and packing before I left that I nearly forgot our conversation. But I was so charmed by this girl and her commitment to her work. Artists can appear in all professions and at all levels. So on the last day before I left to come up here, I managed to get back to Waynesboro, go into the shop, and was fortunate to find Jessie without a client. She remembered our deal and seemed delighted that I had come back to make good on it.
She was like a little girl in a candy shop going up to the rows of polish and carefully scrutinizing every single one before picking the three she wanted. I saw a little impish grin as she would choose one and then put it back. I couldn't wait to see what she chose. Well, I'm gladto say she did not return to the chair with any blues or greens or purples, but what she had was a VERY hot pink, an orangey red, and the deep bright red with the glitter. I swallowed hard and realized I could live with any of those. I was having so much fun! So I told her to choose, and of course, the glitter polish was the one!
We laughed like sorority sisters as we contemplated how my nail polish was going to take New York by storm. Of course she thought I was coming to NYC, and it was kind of hard for me to explain where I was going. But as we got to the end of the leg massages she said, "Now you have to close your eyes while I put this on so that we can have a big reveal!" Dear God, this girl was charming! So I closed my eyes tight and did not peek until she announced the big "TA-DAH!" And there they were. Ruth Powell's toes in bright red with glitter. Surely a first. I asked her the name of the polish and she said, "New York Bling!" I said, "You've got to be kidding!" And she said, "I am kidding, But that's what it's called now!"
I found that when I got up here I started noticing people's toes to see how mine would measure up? Were Chautauquans conservative about their toes? Would mine fit in? The first few days of rain and cold did not give me much chance to find out as we all had our socks and sneakers on. But eventually the sandals came on, and I found that there were all manor of pedicured and non-pedicured toes about. So today, as I found myself not trying hard enough to stay with the lecture, and found myself looking at my toes, my gaudy gaudy toes, I just broke into a smile.
I'm SOOOO proud of them!!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Ka-Boom!
My greatest fear about spending the entire 9 week season at Chautauqua was that around about week 6 my head would explode.
It has already happened.
Here's how it went down. . . .in true Chautauqua fashion.
I have a dear friend, Nancy Mower from my school teaching days. She has a friend, Liz Dahl Merchant who was going to go to Chautauqua for the first time on week 1 this year. Liz chose week 1 because it was the only week that had a vacancy in the house where she wanted to stay.
Yesterday, through Facebook, I invited Liz to come to my condo so we could meet. And she did. To say we hit it off immediately would be an understatement. More like "separated at birth." Now this is always a treat. I always know I'm going to meet new friends here. But it keeps going. Liz mentions that even though she ended up here on week one sort of by accident, she realized that today's speaker was going to be one of her heroes, Paul Farmer. Had I heard of him? Hmmmmmm. . . .no.
So as I said yesterday, I got the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and read as much as I could. This morning after church I went to where the podcast for the NPR station takes place every day, and there was Paul Farmer being interviewed. He had just flown in from Rwanda. He now divides his time between teaching at Harvard, being a doctor in Boston, serving his hospital in Haiti, and working at his new hospital in Rwanda. Right now he considers Rwanda the place where he "lives." What a phenominal story. One of the impressive remarks he made in this morning's lecture happened during the question and answer phase. Someone asked him who or what had inspired him to adopt such a completely selfless lifestyle in the service of the world's poorest people. His response was: No one should exceptionalize nor pathologize someone's commitment to social justice. My head exploded.
So here we have the longtime friendship from my teaching past connecting to her friend, who by "accident" decided to come here during week 1, who looked me up, who mentioned Paul Farmer's name, which got me to buy the book and then to attend a lecture I wasn't planning on attending, and my world has opened up yet again to something I did not know or understand before. And it's only the first day of week 1!!
Weather is gorgeous after cold and rain for several days. I took my first bike ride yesterday. Haven't been in my car since my trip to Wegman's on Friday. I'm loving cooking in my condo, reading on the porch, singing in choir, and just in general, being ready for whatever comes along. If yesterday and today are precursors of the summer, it should be quite a ride.
It has already happened.
Here's how it went down. . . .in true Chautauqua fashion.
I have a dear friend, Nancy Mower from my school teaching days. She has a friend, Liz Dahl Merchant who was going to go to Chautauqua for the first time on week 1 this year. Liz chose week 1 because it was the only week that had a vacancy in the house where she wanted to stay.
Yesterday, through Facebook, I invited Liz to come to my condo so we could meet. And she did. To say we hit it off immediately would be an understatement. More like "separated at birth." Now this is always a treat. I always know I'm going to meet new friends here. But it keeps going. Liz mentions that even though she ended up here on week one sort of by accident, she realized that today's speaker was going to be one of her heroes, Paul Farmer. Had I heard of him? Hmmmmmm. . . .no.
So as I said yesterday, I got the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and read as much as I could. This morning after church I went to where the podcast for the NPR station takes place every day, and there was Paul Farmer being interviewed. He had just flown in from Rwanda. He now divides his time between teaching at Harvard, being a doctor in Boston, serving his hospital in Haiti, and working at his new hospital in Rwanda. Right now he considers Rwanda the place where he "lives." What a phenominal story. One of the impressive remarks he made in this morning's lecture happened during the question and answer phase. Someone asked him who or what had inspired him to adopt such a completely selfless lifestyle in the service of the world's poorest people. His response was: No one should exceptionalize nor pathologize someone's commitment to social justice. My head exploded.
So here we have the longtime friendship from my teaching past connecting to her friend, who by "accident" decided to come here during week 1, who looked me up, who mentioned Paul Farmer's name, which got me to buy the book and then to attend a lecture I wasn't planning on attending, and my world has opened up yet again to something I did not know or understand before. And it's only the first day of week 1!!
Weather is gorgeous after cold and rain for several days. I took my first bike ride yesterday. Haven't been in my car since my trip to Wegman's on Friday. I'm loving cooking in my condo, reading on the porch, singing in choir, and just in general, being ready for whatever comes along. If yesterday and today are precursors of the summer, it should be quite a ride.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Three Taps of the Gavel!
And the season officially opened today with President Tom Becker giving his three taps of the gavel. We sang at the morning church service and at the evening Sacred Song Service. Sunday is our biggest singing day. It's a little bit challenging to follow the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. . .especially on only two rehearsals for 10+ pieces of music. We pretty much fly by the seat of our collective pants here. The Mormon Tabernacle we aren't. But we are Chautauqua!!!
Here's a nugget from the opening speech that I also posted on Facebook: The juxtaposition of amnesia with deja vu is when you hear yourself saying, "I think I forgot that before!" Welcome to senior citizen-hood!
Here's a thing I love about Chautauqua. . . . . I don't have a TV. In years past this was a given, but this year I had a choice. There's even a set tucked into my closet. However, I declined the offer. Now the people above me and the woman next door both have one and I can hear it through the walls. But boy I don't miss it. Whenever I get home from Chautauqua in the fall, it takes about a month for me to start turning on the set, and about 2 days for it to become routine.. .. .although I am MUCH more discerning about what I will and won't watch, and I often turn the set off rather than watch the drivel that is on today. But boy is my life ever better without it. I'm eating really healthy and controlled. I don't think about food all day. And I don't sit in front of the tube thinking I need to be stuffing something in my mouth all the time. This is a constant struggle for me at home, and is a non-issue here!
This coming week's theme is Global Health and Development as Foreign Policy. . which to tell the truth sounded a bit stuffy to me. But now I'm really looking forward to it. Tomorrow's speaker is Paul Farmer who I am just learning about. He is a Harvard educated physician who has divided his time between the slums of Boston and in Haiti. I just bought Tracy Kidder's book about him in the book store today. The book is called Mountains Beyond Mountains and I had to put the rest of Say You're One of Them on hold today while I at least got a start on this one before hearing Paul Farmer tomorrow. A phenominal man. . . . Google him! You just don't know when you get up here what new thing is going to jump out and grab your interest.
So I'm heading in to cram as much of this book into my head as possible before tomorrow. Then I'll go back and finish up the other one prior to hearing the author on Thursday. These are big, big people who make a difference, and I'm proud to be able to cross their paths.
Let the week begin!
Here's a nugget from the opening speech that I also posted on Facebook: The juxtaposition of amnesia with deja vu is when you hear yourself saying, "I think I forgot that before!" Welcome to senior citizen-hood!
Here's a thing I love about Chautauqua. . . . . I don't have a TV. In years past this was a given, but this year I had a choice. There's even a set tucked into my closet. However, I declined the offer. Now the people above me and the woman next door both have one and I can hear it through the walls. But boy I don't miss it. Whenever I get home from Chautauqua in the fall, it takes about a month for me to start turning on the set, and about 2 days for it to become routine.. .. .although I am MUCH more discerning about what I will and won't watch, and I often turn the set off rather than watch the drivel that is on today. But boy is my life ever better without it. I'm eating really healthy and controlled. I don't think about food all day. And I don't sit in front of the tube thinking I need to be stuffing something in my mouth all the time. This is a constant struggle for me at home, and is a non-issue here!
This coming week's theme is Global Health and Development as Foreign Policy. . which to tell the truth sounded a bit stuffy to me. But now I'm really looking forward to it. Tomorrow's speaker is Paul Farmer who I am just learning about. He is a Harvard educated physician who has divided his time between the slums of Boston and in Haiti. I just bought Tracy Kidder's book about him in the book store today. The book is called Mountains Beyond Mountains and I had to put the rest of Say You're One of Them on hold today while I at least got a start on this one before hearing Paul Farmer tomorrow. A phenominal man. . . . Google him! You just don't know when you get up here what new thing is going to jump out and grab your interest.
So I'm heading in to cram as much of this book into my head as possible before tomorrow. Then I'll go back and finish up the other one prior to hearing the author on Thursday. These are big, big people who make a difference, and I'm proud to be able to cross their paths.
Let the week begin!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
SWEET!
I'm sitting on the front porch of my condo checking my email, and about 20 yards away in the amp the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is performing live. Now how can it get any better? I'll attend the concert tonight when they repeat the performance. They have an entourage of nearly 600 people which includes a full symphony orchestra along with the choir of over 300. Luckily it's a cold, dreary day. I know it can get stifling up in the choir loft with only the 150 of us on Sunday morning. There are literally thousands of people swarming the grounds today to see this group. What a spectacular start of the season.
Here's what frustrates me. . . . .at home in my storage unit, I have probably 15 light hooded sweatshirts. Actually that's not exactly accurate, because I know I gave a ton of them to the thrift shop. However. . . .do you think I made it up here with any of them??? That would be a "no." I have about 6 umbrellas. . . I did make it up here with one. . but I'd better keep track of this one!
On the other hand I live in a little place that has only the things I need on a daily basis. Everything is put away, and I can find everything I need. This is a reason why I love Chautauqua.
Went to see the movie Cedar Rapids last night. It was funny but pretty exceptionally crude in many spots. Not sure I'd ever see it again, nor recommend it, but it was good being back at the Chautauqua Cinema. . one of my favorite places. . . musty smell and all.
Our first choir practice was last night with another this afternoon. It's a little troubling for the Chautauqua Choir to follow the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But what you gonna do? To add insult to injury, they just sang a piece on their concert that we are singing tomorrow. . . . . .Hmmmmmmm. I guess if that's the most difficult thing about today, then I'm having a pretty great life. . . .and I am.
Here's what frustrates me. . . . .at home in my storage unit, I have probably 15 light hooded sweatshirts. Actually that's not exactly accurate, because I know I gave a ton of them to the thrift shop. However. . . .do you think I made it up here with any of them??? That would be a "no." I have about 6 umbrellas. . . I did make it up here with one. . but I'd better keep track of this one!
On the other hand I live in a little place that has only the things I need on a daily basis. Everything is put away, and I can find everything I need. This is a reason why I love Chautauqua.
Went to see the movie Cedar Rapids last night. It was funny but pretty exceptionally crude in many spots. Not sure I'd ever see it again, nor recommend it, but it was good being back at the Chautauqua Cinema. . one of my favorite places. . . musty smell and all.
Our first choir practice was last night with another this afternoon. It's a little troubling for the Chautauqua Choir to follow the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But what you gonna do? To add insult to injury, they just sang a piece on their concert that we are singing tomorrow. . . . . .Hmmmmmmm. I guess if that's the most difficult thing about today, then I'm having a pretty great life. . . .and I am.
Friday, June 24, 2011
STARTING OVER
June 24, 2011
Well, good luck finding me! Starting over is a good title because I sat down to blog and couldn't get into my own blog. This is because since I sold my house and moved, I discontinued the satellite service and email that was connected with my blog. So I'll have to start over getting people to know where I am. I guess if that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'm leading a pretty wonderful life.
I'm back in Chautauqua!!! And living in the darling little condo I signed up for almost exactly a year ago! I arrived yesterday mid-day and was settled in within a couple of hours. I LOVE settling in! I have always had a nearly Christmas Eve excitement about the prospect of moving into a new place and unpacking and deciding where everything goes. I was positively giddy by the time I drove up to the front door of 12 Pratt, Apartment 2. And last night I did what I have not managed to do for the last several months. . . . . fall asleep at 10:15 and wake up at 8:00. For the last couple of months I have been finalizing the sale of my house, packing up, getting rid of stuff, giving stuff away, making decisions about the renovations of my new place, worrying about my dog, and packing for Chautauqua, all simultaneously. Every time I woke up to use the bathroom it was murder getting back to sleep with everything to consider. Now, it seems, I'm worry-free, settled in, and ready to roll in my wonderful summer home.
The two other ladies who rent apartments 1 and 3 and I had a wonderful dinner last night upstairs with the owners of the house, Walter and Anne McIntosh, from Australia. Wonderful food and company, and a new thing for me. . . .drinking wine at Chautauqua. Not something I could do at the Ecumenical Houses of last year.
I am well into book #1 for this next week: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan. These are 5 stories told from the point of view of children in Africa. Really grim topics. . . not a happy book. But beautifully written and worth the effort. Once you get past the author's use of multiple languages during dialogue the stories just roll in a very compelling way. I really look forward to hearing him speak on Thursday!
Today I did my Wegman's shopping, walked out to Turner Rec Center to get my photo pass for the season, got my season fitness pass, bought a bargain book of 10 movie tickets, and began to process the groceries. Tonight is the first choir practice. Tomorrow's practice is early due to the double concert of none other than the Morman Tabernacle Choir!
I'm luxuriating in sitting in my condo which is smack in the center of everything and listening to Jared Jacobsen practice the huge Massey pipe organ in the amphitheater, merely steps from my front door. Oh man. . . it's good to be home.
So I'm starting over. . . new email address, new blog address, new accommodations here, new house in progress, new season at Chautauqua. Life is good.
Well, good luck finding me! Starting over is a good title because I sat down to blog and couldn't get into my own blog. This is because since I sold my house and moved, I discontinued the satellite service and email that was connected with my blog. So I'll have to start over getting people to know where I am. I guess if that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'm leading a pretty wonderful life.
I'm back in Chautauqua!!! And living in the darling little condo I signed up for almost exactly a year ago! I arrived yesterday mid-day and was settled in within a couple of hours. I LOVE settling in! I have always had a nearly Christmas Eve excitement about the prospect of moving into a new place and unpacking and deciding where everything goes. I was positively giddy by the time I drove up to the front door of 12 Pratt, Apartment 2. And last night I did what I have not managed to do for the last several months. . . . . fall asleep at 10:15 and wake up at 8:00. For the last couple of months I have been finalizing the sale of my house, packing up, getting rid of stuff, giving stuff away, making decisions about the renovations of my new place, worrying about my dog, and packing for Chautauqua, all simultaneously. Every time I woke up to use the bathroom it was murder getting back to sleep with everything to consider. Now, it seems, I'm worry-free, settled in, and ready to roll in my wonderful summer home.
The two other ladies who rent apartments 1 and 3 and I had a wonderful dinner last night upstairs with the owners of the house, Walter and Anne McIntosh, from Australia. Wonderful food and company, and a new thing for me. . . .drinking wine at Chautauqua. Not something I could do at the Ecumenical Houses of last year.
I am well into book #1 for this next week: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan. These are 5 stories told from the point of view of children in Africa. Really grim topics. . . not a happy book. But beautifully written and worth the effort. Once you get past the author's use of multiple languages during dialogue the stories just roll in a very compelling way. I really look forward to hearing him speak on Thursday!
Today I did my Wegman's shopping, walked out to Turner Rec Center to get my photo pass for the season, got my season fitness pass, bought a bargain book of 10 movie tickets, and began to process the groceries. Tonight is the first choir practice. Tomorrow's practice is early due to the double concert of none other than the Morman Tabernacle Choir!
I'm luxuriating in sitting in my condo which is smack in the center of everything and listening to Jared Jacobsen practice the huge Massey pipe organ in the amphitheater, merely steps from my front door. Oh man. . . it's good to be home.
So I'm starting over. . . new email address, new blog address, new accommodations here, new house in progress, new season at Chautauqua. Life is good.
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